Bar End and the Leisure Centre- a rough guide - TrustNews Sep 16
Some of us find the designation and ownership of the land at Bar End very difficult to grasp, not to mention the options available for the Leisure Centre, should this area be chosen as its new location. So three of us were very pleased to be given a guided tour by members of the Highcliffe Community Forum and the St Giles Hill Residents’ Association. Not having taken detailed notes we do not claim that this is an accurate description of the situation, but we hope it may be of help to members who are not conversant with the general background.
The accompanying diagram shows the playing fields bounded on the north by Highcliffe and its allotments, on the east by the motorway, on the south by Chilcombe Lane, and on the west by Bar End Road. Within this area the land is held by four different owners as shown on the plan, and these are again subdivided as follows, starting with the western area seen by most of us who do not penetrate the site.
The WCC depot in the NW corner, which was the SERCO HQ, now unoccupied, and a motley selection of other buildings in various states of use and repair. The site is believed to be intended for commercial development by WCC when the time is ripe.
The Garrison Ground bordering Bar End Road, once military playing fields, but long since owned by Tesco and leased to WCC. We understand that Tesco originally hoped to site their superstore here but it was not permitted, and since then they have hoped that they might sell it for housing development, but this too has not been acceptable for planning reasons. Negotiations are in progress concerning its possible sale to WCC in connection with potential Leisure Centre plans.
The University of Winchester’s athletics track in the centre, recently developed in conjunction with WCC.
The Museums Service HQ at Chilcombe Manor and reached via Chilcombe Lane. The area has the Museums offices, workshops, stores and a multi-purpose operational field at its northern end. With the recent formation of the Hampshire Cultural Trust, now responsible for running all museum facilities in the county, the future of this land is uncertain.
The King George V (KGV) Playing Fields at the far western end has an interesting history. Bought by WCC as a memorial to the King using various funds including public subscription, it was vested in perpetual trust as open land for public playing fields. When the motorway was constructed it was necessary to break the trust for part of the land required by the route, but only in return for an equal area of suitable land adjoining the HCC area.
The two most likely areas for the construction of a Leisure Centre are shown on the plan as A and B, the latter being WCC’s preferred site at present. Subject to the owners’ agreement the site would include parts of the University’s, the Museum’s, and KGV land to allow for a large parking area north and west of the new building accessed by a new road along the north boundary of the site. The Highcliffe Community Forum is not happy about the use of the KGV land because it reduces the open area of trust land, particularly where it is most accessible for children living on the estate.
The potential alternative site is at A, which has the advantages being closer to the road for access and being less visible from the South Downs; moreover the depot site could be used for car parking. However, on the downside, it would necessitate Tesco selling all or part of its land to WCC, no doubt asking much more than it is worth at present, and if the depot were used it would prevent any financial benefit to WCC from its development.